Wildlife SOS engages in conservation efforts leading to protecting and rescuing orphaned, injured, and displaced wildlife found in urban and rural environments across India. In recent years, habitat encroachment and deforestation have been taking place at a startling pace, slowly redefining the boundaries between forest and urban areas. The organisation’s Rapid Response Unit has saved the lives of various wild animals that have been trapped, injured, or caught in such conflict situations.
Established with the mission of promoting wildlife and habitat protection in India over the years, Wildlife SOS has been responsible for rescuing wildlife in distress and working to resolve man-animal conflicts while also taking initiatives to promote and educate the public about the need for conservation and habitat protection.
Wildlife SOS also provides sustainable alternative livelihood to erstwhile poacher communities or those communities that depend on wildlife for sustenance. They study various aspects of biodiversity and conduct extensive in-situ and ex-situ research in veterinary areas, behavioural studies, reproductive physiology, and other fields in collaboration with national and international universities and organisations.
The organisation’s rescue teams work round the clock, attending to distress calls from members of the public, police, animal lovers, and other organizations for wild animals in peril or caught in conflict situations. After being rescued, the animals receive veterinary treatment if required, and are then released back into the wild. Injured or orphaned animals that cannot be released are given refuge at rescue facilities spread across various states.
Over the years, the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation NGO has achieved several victories and carried out many successful rescue operations. Here is a roundup of their top 16 animal rescues!
Mohan, the world’s unluckiest elephant, finally walks free
Having spent nearly 50 years in captivity, begging elephant Mohan finally had a chance to break away from his shackles after Wildlife SOS’s persistent efforts over two years to win him freedom. This has been the most challenging and the biggest of the NGO’s elephant rescues till date! Formerly known as the world’s unluckiest elephant, Mohan has come a long way in the few short months since his much-awaited rescue. It is heart-warming to watch him taking his first steps towards the road to recovery, and enjoying a much-deserved life of freedom along with fellow pachyderms at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Centre!
[caption id="attachment_82490" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Mohan after rescue coming out of the truck]()
Mohan stepping into the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura[/caption]
Drowning leopard rescued from 60-feet-deep well in Maharashtra
In a nerve-wracking rescue operation, a four-year-old female leopard was rescued from a remote village in Maharashtra after it had the misfortune of falling into a 60-foot-deep well. The terrified animal was on the verge of drowning and was desperately clinging onto a rope to stay afloat. With the help of the local villagers, the team from Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center had to lower a wooden platform into the well to give the leopard a chance to clamber out of the water and onto a safe space before lowering a trapping cage inside the well. However, the sight of the cold metal cage aggravated the already petrified big cat and it even took a few swipes at it, only to end up losing its balance, much to everyone’s dismay. After regaining a hold on the platform and realising that the box was its last hope for survival, in a swift movement, the leopard jumped into the cage. Upon close examination, the animal was found to be physically fit, and was later released back into the wild.
[caption id="attachment_82491" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Leopard rescued by Wildlife SOS in Maharashtra (1)]()
Leopard jumping into the trapping cage[/caption]
Rose the spirited bear cub
Wildlife SOS saw another major addition to their rescued sloth bears at Agra, at the world’s largest sloth bear rehabilitation centre. The centre currently houses 200 former ‘dancing bears’ that were rescued from Kalandar communities (who were dependent on sloth bears to earn a living).
A brutally maimed and abandoned three-month-old bear cub was found near a village in Bhopal. The young bear had lost her left fore-limb to a poacher’s snare, leaving her severely injured and inevitably handicapped for the rest of her life. Following a series of intensive surgeries to amputate the severed leg and to suture the skin over her exposed leg bone, Rose, as she has been fondly named by the staff, is now on a positive road to recovery at the Agra Bear Rescue Center.
[caption id="attachment_82493" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Bear cub rescued by wildlife sos (1)]()
Rose shortly after her rescue[/caption]
Rhea the circus elephant
In yet another important milestone, the organisation rescued their 11
th circus elephant, Rhea. After months of tireless efforts and prolonged paperwork, the 53-year-old pachyderm was finally reunited with her sisters, Mia and Sita, who were rescued from the circus in 2015. Her time in the circus had left Rhea riddled with ailments. Her feet were in atrocious condition, with deep painful cracks running through her swollen soles. Cracked nails and overgrown cuticles were testament to the neglect she had been subjected to all these years. In the days since her rescue, Rhea’s spirit has won the hearts of everyone at the Elephant Conservation & Care Centre in Mathura, and she has finally been receiving the medical attention and rest that she needed.
[caption id="attachment_82494" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![DSC01820]()
Rhea coming out of the elephant ambulance at the WSOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura[/caption]
Duck Seizure in Agra
1,839 ducks were rescued in a massive seizure from a livestock transport truck by Agra Police authorities. The ducks were being transported from Karnataka, and were on the way to a slaughter house in Uttar Pradesh. The police patrol intercepted the men driving the vehicle on the outskirts of the city, and upon standard inspection, they found that the truck failed to meet the suitable requirements of vehicles transporting livestock across the country.
The police transferred the traumatized and starving ducks to the Wildlife SOS rescue facility in Peprot, located a few kilometres from Agra. Here, the rescue team set them free from their tiny inhumane cages and released them into a big open field. It was quite a remarkable and heart-warming sight to watch them run about the field enjoying their newfound freedom and relishing the feed that the team prepared for them.
![]()
Orphaned deer fawn rescued in forest fire
When a devastating forest fire ravaged Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Agra, it killed and injured hundreds of birds, reptiles, and animals, along with damaging several hectares of forest. In the aftermath of the horrific incident, the Forest Department found an orphaned hog deer fawn, weak and dehydrated from lack of food and water. There was no sign of the mother, who possibly perished in the fire, leaving her offspring to fend for itself. Lovingly named Soniya, the fawn now safety resides at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility with other rescued deer.
[caption id="attachment_82498" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Hog Deer Fawn being cared for by Wildlife SOS staff]()
Wildlife SOS staff cares for hog deer fawn[/caption]
Turtles rescued from poacher’s net
A team found 54 endangered turtles trapped in a 20-ft-long poacher’s net in Keetham Lake, located in Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Agra. Wildlife SOS and the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department found 42 dead turtles and 12 in grave condition. Rescuers identified them as four different species of turtles—the Spotted Black Turtle, Indian Soft-shell Turtle, Indian Flap-shell Turtle and Indian Tent Turtle, all protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The authorities immediately released the 12 rescued turtles back into the lake.
[caption id="attachment_82499" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![A Spotted black turtle rescued from poacher's net in Agra]()
A Spotted Black Turtle rescued from the poacher’s net in Agra[/caption]
Nilgai creates panic near the Parliament
After wandering out the of the central ridge forest in Delhi, an adult female nilgai found itself in Rajpath, which houses the Parliament House and top government offices in New Delhi. The Wildlife SOS team used a safety net to rescue the distressed antelope in a five-hour-long operation. Following a general health assessment, the rescue team released the nilgai to its natural habitat.
[caption id="attachment_82500" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Nilgai resting under a tree near Parliament house]()
Nilgai resting under a tree near Parliament House[/caption]
Himalayan Griffon Vulture
The Wildlife SOS rescue team in Srinagar rescued an injured Himalayan Griffon Vulture from Dal Lake. The Griffon Vulture is one of the largest birds in the Himalayan region and being a scavenging bird of prey, it mostly feeds on the carcasses of animals. This particular bird’s wingspan measured about 8 ft. long, and it was around 3 ft. tall. The team gave the bird the necessary treatment and soon released it into the wild.
[caption id="attachment_82515" align="aligncenter" width="488"]
![Himalayan Griffon vulture rescued from Dal Lake]()
Himalayan Griffon Vulture rescued from Dal Lake[/caption]
Hyena violently attacked by a mob
In one of the most brutal acts against an innocent animal, a mob of villagers violently attacked a female hyena after they found it wandering on the outskirts of Sarbathpur village, Agra. The forest department and Wildlife SOS team were able to rescue the critically injured animal in the nick of time. It had sustained multiple body wounds, and suffered temporary loss of vision due to severe head trauma. After undergoing months of treatment and care, the hyena finally recovered enough to return to the wild.
[caption id="attachment_82516" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Injured hyena rescued from a violent mob in Agra]()
Injured hyena rescued from a violent mob in Agra[/caption]
Leopard rescued from a house
A four-year-old male leopard spread panic in a residential area in Agra after it took up shelter inside a house. In order to locate the animal and assess the situation, the rescue team had to drill a hole in the wall through which a Wildlife SOS veterinarian used a tranquilising gun to sedate the wild animal. The wild cat had sustained minor injuries on its forehead during the ordeal. The team released the animal back into its natural habitat once it recovered from its injuries.
[caption id="attachment_82521" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Leopard rescued from a house]()
Leopard rescued from a house[/caption]
Dusky Eagle Owl
A rescue team seized a juvenile dusky eagle owl from poachers in Agra. The poachers had trimmed off the owl’s talons as they were planning on illegally trading them in the market. Driven by religious myths and superstitious beliefs, people poach owls for their body parts such as talons, skulls, bones, feathers, meat, and blood, which they then use in talismans, black magic, traditional medicines, etc. After months of treatment, the team ascertained the owl could hunt, and released it back into the wild.
[caption id="attachment_82522" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Dusky eagle owl rescued from poachers]()
Dusky Eagle Owl rescued from poachers[/caption]
Reptile seizure
A Wildlife SOS team rescued 18 monitor lizards and 16 flap shell turtles from poachers at a train station. The poachers were smuggling the reptiles from Alwar, Rajasthan to sell them to potential buyers in Delhi. The poachers had tied the lizards’ claws to their backs, and the rescue team had to cut open the ropes. The team released the turtles in Keetham Lake in Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, and the monitor lizards into the jungle.
[caption id="attachment_82523" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Wildlife SOS veterinarian releasing the tied up monitor lizards]()
A Wildlife SOS veterinarian treating monitor lizards[/caption]
Leopard in 30-foot-deep well
Farmers from Savidhane village in Maharashtra found a five-year-old female leopard trapped in a 30-ft-deep well. The terrified animal was struggling to avoid the water, and the team rescued it in a nail-biting operation. Deemed fit by the veterinarians, they released the leopard into the neighbouring forest shortly after. Uncovered water tanks and open wells trap wildlife, particularly small jungle cats, civets, leopards, and other nocturnal animals. The villagers often fail to place proper net covers which allows the well to trap unsuspecting animals, and sometimes humans. For public safety and the welfare of wildlife, people must prevent such incidents from taking place in the future.
[caption id="attachment_82530" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Leopard trapped inside a 30 foot deep well]()
Leopard trapped inside a 30-foot-deep well[/caption]
Barn Owl chicks
Villagers found eight Barn Owl fledglings inside a well in Sanaura village, Farah, Mathura. The nearly 30-foot-deep well was dry, making it a suitable nesting spot for birds such as owls. However, after days of waiting, when the mother failed to return to her nest, a concerned resident called for help. Since the fledglings were still quite young, they were incapable of eating and surviving on their own. They thus required hand-rearing. The team will reintroduce them to their natural habitat once they have matured to a suitable age.
[caption id="attachment_82531" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![Rescued Barn owl fledglings]()
Rescued Barn Owl fledglings[/caption]
Sloth bear trapped in poacher’s snare
The Wildlife SOS team cut a female sloth bear free from a snare outside Koratagere village in Karnataka. The snare consisted of a modified clutch wire reinforced with a fence wire, and had enveloped the large animal’s waist. In its attempt to break free, the bear struggled for hours, causing the metal wire to tighten around its waist. Luckily, the animal sustained only minor injuries, and was able to return to the forest soon after its rescue.
[caption id="attachment_82533" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
![The sloth bear being freed from the poacher's snare]()
Wildlife SOS treating the sloth bear[/caption]
Wildlife SOS works with rural and urban communities to spread awareness about the plight of wildlife in India. It also tries to evoke a sense of compassion within the local communities, especially among the young generations. This gives them a more sensitized understanding of the environment and inspires people to actively protect our natural heritage.
Help Wildlife SOS rescue animals as a volunteer. Find out more here.
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
HSI/India and PFA, through a joint campaign, persuaded the government to take cognizance of the rampant depiction of abuse of animals and also, to bring cable and television networks within the ambit of the law to put an end to the portrayal of cruelty to animals.
The efforts came to fruition last month after two full years, with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issuing a notification banning the depiction of cruelty or violence towards animals in any form on all television, cable and other broadcasting networks.
The rules, now known as Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2016, also seek to rein in those depictions of animals that perpetuate baseless superstitions and myths, that serve to portray the animal in a negative light. The new rules don’t apply to news or education programs as long as these don’t promote violence towards animals or depict animal cruelty in a positive light or in an unscientific manner.
“This had been happening for about 40 years. I had heard awful stories of past killings. I must have made 100-150 calls between Friday and Monday and finally managed to stop the culling with the condition that someone must set up a population control programme to take care of this situation. There was no one to do it. It was clear that if I left, it was just the question of time before problems would happen again. I did this because I couldn’t not do it. I couldn’t walk away,” says Leslie, who then went on to start the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter in January 2007.
The sanctuary works on sterilization and anti-rabies programmes and has an active clinic where injured and sick animals are treated. The clinic gets about 800 patients every month. While they mostly work with dogs, other animals in need are also treated and given shelter. They have a 24-hour emergency service to reach out to animals in need, in a matter of 10-15 minutes. With a no-kill policy, the sanctuary has a hospice instead. “We do not euthanize but offer hospice support to allow for a good death masked from pain and surrounded with love and care,” says Leslie.
“The core of what we do is demonstrative love – hugging, touching, stroking, reassuring. Our belief is that deep healing will only take place if the animals feel safe, cared for and loved,” says Leslie.
Usually, there are 150-200 animals in the shelter at any given time. Once healed, the sanctuary workers try and send the animals back to their territories, but if they are too weak to make it on their own they keep them at the shelter itself. Arunachala Sanctuary has conducted 6,300 sterilizations of dogs. The town is now rabies free with over 12,000 anti-rabies injections given.
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Leslie was on a great career path. He was appointed the Chief Actuary of the State of Michigan for a couple of years. He then went on to start his own consulting firm, only to give it all up in his late 30s. He started on a spiritual journey after that, because he wasn’t happy with his life. “That time I had a lot of money. I don’t have any now. I am poor. But it doesn’t feel different,” he laughs. Travelling around the world for many years, Leslie has spent a total of about 26 years of his life in India.
When he started the sanctuary, Leslie funded it with his own money but also wrote to many people seeking help and donations. “Many things have happened magically over these years. I sent out several emails and expected a lot of money to come in, but nothing did. And then some guy heard about me and wrote in that he wanted to make a donation. He was Irish. He handed me a cheque and then we started talking. I did not even know how much the donation was until I looked down and was amazed to see that it was a cheque for $10,000. That was the seed money we actually started with,” he says. Leslie used his savings over four years and the sanctuary is now running solely with the help of private donations.
“There is a lady in our neighbourhood who prepares food for dogs. We purchased food from her and went to feed them in Vimaan Nagar area,” says Sneha, a resident of Pune. Together with her family, she fed about 70 dogs in all.
An IT professional, 25-year-old Sneha is also involved in animal rescue activities. She, along with her friends, conducts sterilization drives for dogs, and provides anti-rabies vaccines with the help of local organizations.
“The idea behind this was to create awareness regarding the welfare of animals in our society. Even as pet owners, we can plan something like this. Not necessarily a feeding drive; it can be anything related to stray dogs to make their lives better. We should not be scared of stray dogs because if we get scared, run, or throw stones, they get aggressive. Otherwise, they always understand that we are not there to harm them,” she says.
Dear Onyx,
I had wanted a dog for years and had gone without one because of life, studies, and all other commitments. And when I finally met you, your sweet nature immediately drew me towards you.
I was in love with you when we brought you home as a six-weeks-old pup. You are the sweetest cuddler and love me like a brother. You were my baby. You still are today. As you’ve grown up, you have continued to amaze me with your intelligence and hilarious temperament. I know you get into trouble sometimes and I’m very easy on you because you really don’t know better. When you wake me up at 5 am every morning to go for a walk, it sets the tone for my entire day. And it is always the best to start my days with your cuddles.
You are going to be the best big brother to the new member of our family when she’s born in December. I look forward to watching you two sleep, play, and grow up together. I know you and I know you’ll always protect her from whatever comes her way.
Onyx, you are my best friend. You’re funny and sweet and always make me smile. I just want you to know how much better life is with you around.
When I think of all the things I’m thankful for, you are at the top of my list. My life would be incomplete without you. Every day is better because I always have your smiling face and wiggly butt to come home to.
I will never be able to truly explain our bond. When I am in a bad mood and can do something to make you happy, it makes me smile. You love me unconditionally–and I love you. You were there when no one else was and you never left my side. I am so grateful to have you in my life.
You have changed my world. I never thought I could love an animal as much as I love you. You made me realize that animals deserve to live with dignity. You have taught me to help stray animals who are in need or pain. You were the reason why I decided to feed around 70 stray dogs on your birthday.
You have been there for me through the good and bad times. I know I spoil you too much, but you deserve to be spoiled as much as possible! You are a precious gift from God that I cherish you every day!
We all love you Onyx.
You can know more about Sneha's pet boutique 
This usually has less to do with the temperament or behaviour of the dogs and more with the circumstances under which owners make such hasty decisions – the death of a guardian, the novelty of a new dog wearing off, the arrival of an infant, loss of a job, a shift in work schedule, etc.
When we get in touch with Deebalana Ghosh, who is in charge of the adoption and awareness drive along with Vani Shankar, she puts us on hold because someone is at the door. A chorus of dogs can be heard barking in the background. Deebalana tells us that she became interested in the rescue and rehabilitation of older dogs after she adopted four of them herself.
She says, “Every day we get around three or four dogs and very good centres, such as Precious Paws, are overflowing with dogs. So, we first approach our friends in familiar networks to house these dogs until we can re-home them. And, as a last resort, we approach good boarding centres where we get highly discounted prices for housing the dogs because of our rescue work. We have to take care of the dogs’ health, get them vaccinated, sterilized, and address other health issues. Once we’re done all this, we put them up for adoption.”
It is essential to keep in mind that most adoptive parents looking for dogs as pets prefer young ones because they believe them to be more energetic and healthy. Deebalana says that by organising this adoption camp, she and her friends are trying to erase the stigma around adopting older dogs.
The organisers of the event are aware of the fact that people do tend to make emotional, impulsive decisions when looking for pets; they would prefer that people be more practical in their choices. Deebalana said, “What is most important is that the temperament of the dog matches the lifestyle of the family that adopts it. So, we have a stringent screening process to make sure that we know all the details about the family – from their work schedule to their exercise habits.”
Deebalana and Vani say that the advantages of adopting older dogs are also that they are usually potty-trained and understand basic commands.
Georgina Coelho, who runs Georgina’s Kitchen, which provides home cooked meals for dogs, and Aditi Nanda’s platform Pet Social, enabled Deebalana to organise this adoption campaign for older dogs in need of loving families.
Do contact Deebalana on 9845473102 or Vani Shankar on 9886391987 to know more about the event or to bring home a precious senior dog.
A study published in 2015 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, showed that India accounted for 35 percent of all rabies deaths worldwide. However, killing dogs is hardly an effective means to control the spread of the disease.
As per the World Health Organization, rabies can be controlled by administering anti-rabies vaccinations to at least 70 percent of the dog population. Additionally, the dog population can be controlled by adopting the method of sterilization. In fact, the Indian government even passed the 
While vaccination and sterilization is the most scientific method to address the problems of rabies and curtail the growth of dog populations, it is also widely recognized as among the most humane and compassionate means to do so and as such, forms the core of Humane Society International/India’s dog population management programme.
Following this, a highly trained team of animal handlers are deployed to humanely catch these animals. The trained handlers first befriend the dogs and then pick them up by hand after winning their trust, thus easing the stress that is otherwise associated with their capture. These dogs are then taken to well-equipped clinics where they are housed in weather-specific conditions, provided nutritious food, operated upon and vaccinated. They are kept under observation in community kennels for a period of two days and are then released into the same locations from where they were picked up.
Although this process may seem long drawn, it has thrown up positive results. For example, we have worked with the Royal Government of Bhutan to train local veterinarians and government officers to run an effective dog population control and vaccination programme, making it possible for Bhutan to achieve its target of being rabies-free by 2020.
Similarly, we’ve conducted this program in the Indian cities of Ahmedabad and Jamshedpur with positive outcomes for the dogs and the communities.
To further spread the word about this humane method of dog population management, HSI/India conducts spay and neuter training programmes for veterinarians so as to strengthen the network of trained personnel at grassroots levels. It also holds workshops to educate children about the longstanding bond between humans and their canine companions.
This World Rabies Day, help us strengthen this bond and join the fight against this dreaded disease, by taking on the responsibility of vaccinating and sterilizing the dogs in your area. Look for a ‘v’-shaped notch on the ears of your community dogs, which indicates that a dog has been sterilized. In case they are not, contact your local animal welfare organization which will be happy to sterilize and vaccinate the animal for a nominal fee. Alternatively, you can also call your local municipality and get the street dog sterilized and vaccinated for free.
But do ensure that the dog is picked up and dropped off, at the same location, in a humane manner. In doing so, you can help end the blight of rabies and also, earn the unquestionable gratitude and loyalty that is the hallmark of the canine heart.
Boobie and Ballsy are the local celebrities of Viman Nagar and they sure act like it! With their very own wooden cottage, the two cats are treated exceptionally well and are adored by waiters and customers alike.
Having always been fond of animals, it wasn’t much of a stretch for the foursome to conceptualize a place that not only welcomed pets, but had a specially designed menu for them as well! You can pop into Where Else anytime you like and witness dogs, cats, rabbits and myriad other pets chilling over a bowl of broth, or some choostix. You would think having so many pets together in a place would be a recipe for disasters and pet-brawls, but you’d be wrong.
Human-brawling, however, is a different matter altogether and Where Else has been in for their share of ugliness -- what with animal activists being after them and customers objecting to the cats roaming about (The latter, however, has only happened once till date).
The staff loves being around Booby and Ballsy. Shout out to Prashant who seems to have a special bond with the cats; they even do what he tells them to. Adorable furballs aren’t the only nice things about Where Else.
Where Else has come up with a novel concept of feeding the hungry in Pune too. The Goodie Bag, one of their pet projects, is an initiative where you can add Rs. 20 to your bill and Where Else will donate an essential goodie bag to someone who needs it. The bag contains a boiled egg, a banana and a bottle of water.
If you wish to contribute to the initiative, you can get in touch here - 
A wild sloth bear[/caption]
They are considered myrmecophageous as they feed primarily on termites, insects, fruits, berries and tubers. Over the years, their population in the wild has been threatened due to loss of habitat, man-animal conflicts and poaching, making them a 'Vulnerable Species' under the IUCN Red Data List. They have also been listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
A six-member rescue team led by Dr Arun A Sha, Director of Wildlife Veterinary Operations at Wildlife SOS, along with Forest Department officials, rushed to the location, with the necessary equipment in hand.
Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit trying to free the bear from the snare.[/caption]
According to the team, the snare was made up of a modified clutch wire, reinforced with a fence wire and, judging by the condition of the bear, they suspected it to have been trapped for nearly 15 hours.
They had to act fast and cut through this barbaric hunting device before it caused any severe internal damage to the traumatized bear, which was already under immense pain. Dr. Arun had to first tranquilise the bear in order to cut open the snare and conduct a thorough medical assessment, which was followed by treatment of minor external wounds on its body. The sloth bear was identified as a healthy female, approximately 4 to 5 years of age.
Fortunately, the bear did not sustain any severe injuries, making it possible for the team to release it in the neighboring Thimmalapura State Reserve Forest, where it can continue living a free life in a natural environment.
Snares are one of the cruelest human-created threats to wildlife and it is distressing to imagine the millions of animals that fall victim to these barbaric devices every year. Animals caught in these crude, deadly hunting traps often struggle for hours and sometimes even days before succumbing to thirst, hunger, strangulation, internal injuries and even predation from carnivores. Those who manage to escape often succumb to their injuries and die, days or weeks after their painful escape.
There is a major demand in the international black market for body parts such as bones, teeth and claws, which are believed to have medicinal value and magical properties. Additionally, their reproductive organs are used as aphrodisiacs; such blind faith results in exposing this species to several threats and danger.
However, innocent cubs are still captured from the wild and the illegal trafficking of sloth bears continues to prevail in and around India.
According to Wildlife SOS co-founder, Kartick Satyanarayan, as an organisation dedicated towards conserving and protecting India’s rich natural heritage and taking action against animal cruelty, Wildlife SOS has and will continue to work towards protecting wild sloth bears that are a constant target of human exploitation. The NGO has been actively involved in educating the public and spreading awareness regarding the illegality of poaching and trade as well as the abominable treatment of these animals, as it is incredibly important to curb cruelty and poaching of wildlife species.
Do your bit for the welfare of animals. Click 
Dr. Tapesh Mathur[/caption]
Two-and-half years ago, a calf named Krishna, who had met with an accident, was brought to the polyclinic. The little animal’s leg had to be amputated to save its life. Dr. Tapesh, anxious and eager to help the poor creature walk again, decided to attempt fixing the prosthetic limb on Krishna. “It’s not an easy process, like it is for humans. We humans know that artificial limbs will help make our lives better. But the animals do not know that. They instinctively reject the limbs and fiddle to get rid of them,” says Dr. Tapesh. Krishna did the same initially. After 15 days of physiotherapy, Krishna slowly got accustomed to the limb.
Dr. Tapesh is a pioneer in India in making prosthetics for animals. Practically no research and work has been done in our country for this cause. Outside the country, apart from dogs, nothing has ever been done for heavy animals like cows (there was one remarkable story of an elephant getting an artificial limb in Thailand though).
Purnima Devi Barman takes out a rally[/caption]
Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist working with Aaranyak, a well- known NGO working to save species and protect habitats in Assam. However, today she is better known as the guardian angel of the Greater Adjutant Stork, one of the 20 species of storks that are on the verge of extinction. There are just 1200 to 1800 of these five feet tall storks in the world – 800 of them are in Assam and about 156 in Bihar, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. For Purnima Devi, however, they are like her babies. She cradles this tall, rather ugly, smelly bird that acts as a scavenger, and reasons with the village communities of Dadara and Panchariya, Kamrup district, not to chop down the trees on which they nest because that would lead to extinction of the species.
For her efforts to save the hargila, the local name of the adjutant stork, Purnima Devi was recently recognised as an Earth Hero by an international bank that supports projects working with communities in critical forests and wetland ecosystems. Through its Earth Heroes Awards, it recognises individuals and institutions for exemplary work in the environmental landscape.
Adjutant Storks[/caption]
This angers villages and they chop down the trees. One day, Purnima saw a tree being cut and a dozen chicks falling out of the nests on the tree; this is when she became their saviour. She began talking to women’s self-help groups about animals to be saved. “Do we only save animals like the tiger that have an aura or should we give importance to all animals, even those that are ugly and dirty? Each of them serves a purpose in the eco-system,” she would say.
Campaigning since 2009, she has been able to stop the cutting of trees and arrest the shrinking numbers of the Adjutant Stork. Not a tree has been cut since 2010. Working with some 10,000 villagers, she has motivated SHG members to weave the Adjutant Stork as the border motif in traditional gamchas and shawls as a part of their conservation efforts. If a chick has to be saved, she scampers up a tree even in a sari.
Dr. Nikita Prakash in the laboratory in Pinjore[/caption]
The other recipients of the ‘Save the Species’ award are Dr. Vibhu Prakash and his wife Dr. Nikita Prakash, working at the Pinjore Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre in Haryana for the last 15 years to revive the population of Swachh Bharat’s biggest scavenger, the vulture. Dr. Vibhu is the principal scientist of the Bombay Natural History Society and Programme Head for vultures, and Dr. Nikita is an avian egg incubation expert or a kind of foster mother to the chicks. After a long struggle to ban the veterinary drug Diclofenac that decimated 99.9 percent of the vulture population in India and Nepal, breeding 225 vultures from different states, and nurturing incubated and natural eggs, the Prakash team hopes to release the first batch of the vulture fledglings early next year. Of the eight birds to be released, six will be captive bred fledglings and two are adult wild-caught vultures that have been at the Pinjore Centre for many years without showing signs of breeding. The adults will guide the fledglings to the world outside their sheltered existence in Pinjore.
Explaining the difficulties in rejuvenating their population, Dr. Nikita points out vultures lay just one egg at a time in a year. If that egg is removed within 10 to 15 days, the confused mother lays another egg.
Nikita tending to the incubating eggs[/caption]
The temperature in the incubator has to be constantly controlled and the egg rolled around from time to time delicately like its father or mother would. There is danger of the egg cracking and getting infected. “It is as tricky as bringing up a baby,” she says.
A humble scavenger, the vulture today is king in Pinjore. Kept in large, roomy aviaries, the birds are fed goat meat twice a week and their movements monitored through CCTV cameras fitted on the aviaries. Humans are not allowed near them so that it is easier for them to adapt to the outside when released.
Tanya Balcar and Robert Stewart. Growing one of the rarest trees in the world - Elaeocarpus blascoi[/caption]
Winners of the Earth Guardian Award, Robert Stewart and the late Tanya Balcar set up the Vattakanal Conservation Trust some 30 years ago and through it restored the Shola grasslands, the unique eco-system of the Western Ghats, home to several endangered species of flora and fauna.
They established nurseries for Shola plants, restored lost habitats and trained and educated the local population for Shola restoration work. Working through the Trust they were able to rediscover several species that are important components of the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The Trust also undertook large scale reintroduction of endangered species of flora into the wild. Recognizing the value of engaging with the wider public, especially students, the Trust supplies saplings to schools, colleges, and civil society groups. Since October 2014, it has also been cleaning up on a daily basis solid waste from the local river Pambar.
The work of the Trust has resulted in extensive restoration of the Shola grassland ecosystem, documentation of plant growth and biology over 25 years, documentation of best practices and adaptation of the methods and protocols developed by the Trust by other forest divisions.
Dr. Varad Giri[/caption]
Dr Varad Giri, who won the Inspire Award, has done research and conservation work of herpetofauna in India, the Western Ghats in particular. Working tirelessly for 15 years in remote areas, he has discovered 35 new species of reptiles and amphibians. His findings have helped in declaring a World Heritage Site and Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern Western Ghats. He has inspired many budding wildlife biologists and corporates to take up herpetology as a career and do research on amphibians and reptiles.
Dr. Amit Mallick and his team with the seized ivory.[/caption]
Dr Amit Mallick, winner of the Green Warrior Award, is an Indian Forest Service officer of the Kerala cadre, whose extraordinary skills of planning, investigation and team leadership have cracked elephant poaching and ivory syndicates. He was able to seize 19 elephant carcasses and 538 kg of ivory and arrest 73 people. He was also able to seize 28 illegal guns and seven vehicles and check poaching and trafficking of wildlife across the country. As field director of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala, he has made it one of the best managed national parks of the country.
Khageshwar Nayak[/caption]
Another Green Warrior Award recipient, Khageshwar Nayak , retired Indian Forest Service officer, played a significant role in the management of the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh in the early 90s when it was in the grip of left wing extremists. Those were tough times, Khageshwar recalls. The forest staff was constantly being threatened and bullied and restoring their confidence was a big challenge. He personally led the foot patrolling even in the monsoon months. He also played a significant role in the management of the grasslands for restoration of the barasingha population, which had dropped to a dismal 70. Today this population has increased tenfold and the barasingha can be seen in all 12 ranges of Kanha.
Dr. Karan Singh receiving the Earth Heroes award.[/caption]
The Earth Hero award for a life time commitment to environment was given to Dr. Karan Singh, one of India’s longest serving Parliamentarians and Cabinet Minister in the Congress government. He initiated Project Tiger, set up the Indian Board for Wildlife and had the vision to assess the potential of harnessing tourism for conservation long before the term eco-tourism became fashionable.
Anoopa, a writer and editor by profession and a poet by heart, decided to start a pet-sitting service when she moved to a place of her own. She soon realized that there was a burning need for fostering and care for special-needs senior and abandoned animals. “This led me to start 
Bismi Anil and her husband are familiar faces in the canine world around Whitefield. They are IT professionals by day, and feeders and caregivers of street dogs by night. Bismi currently feeds over 150 dogs a day. “It all started off when we started feeding our leftovers to the neighborhood dog,” she says. Bismi soon realized that feeding leftovers was not enough, “Street dogs deserve at least one proper meal a day rather than scrounging through garbage.” Their dedication and hard work is simply inspirational and truly one of a kind.
Debadrita is the founder of 
Garima Singhal is a scientist, teacher, traveler, writer, magazine editor, animal rescuer, saree aficionado, and a certified canine behaviorist . “I have been associated with several animal welfare organizations and rescue centers for the past six years now. But I am mostly an independent rescuer and I rescue and foster dogs as and when I can, with help from others in Bangalore who have very generously stepped up whenever I have asked for it”. Popularly known as Bruno’s mum, her life changed after she adopted her dog Bruno. Inspired by Bruno, she took a volunteer meeting organized by CUPA, Bangalore, followed by a workshop organized by The Voice of Stray Dogs, Bangalore. These seminars sensitized her to the brutality animals are subject to, and the lack of stringent laws concerning animal abuse.
Jenny works in the world’s largest IT company in a senior leadership position, but spares no efforts or expense in rescuing and rehabilitating animals. “I was two when I fell in love with Jacky, my parent’s dog. I am lucky as I grew up in a family of animal lovers. Looking back at those years, I think Lola, my house goat, changed my life. Both of us were around the same age, and she would not budge till she ate a piece of what I ate. I still remember the time she fell sick and died – I slept on the floor hugging her, telling mom to do something”.
In the past 22 years, Jen has done a number of adoption drives, fundraising for animal issues, re-homed rescued dogs, and counselled pet parents. Jen runs ‘
Nevina completed her Masters in Environment and Ecology from the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Delhi. “As was the trend and popular choice, then and now, I chose to work with wildlife. However, I soon realized the ‘problem of plenty’ syndrome with urban street animals. Nobody gave a second glance at them. So I got into small-time animal welfare. But it was a little more than 5-6 years later, when there was a seminar about killing street dogs, that I jumped into the fray and decided that without working with the municipality, you really cannot help animals significantly.” Nevina also conducts regular sensitization workshops in schools and colleges, besides being active in on-ground animal rescue and policy advocacy.
Poornima is well known in animal welfare circles. She was instrumental in starting the Animal Rights Fund in 1999 and Krupa Loving Animals in 2002. She worked tirelessly on animal rescues, training volunteer and animal welfare workers, and animal advocacy. While at Krupa, she ran a 24-hour animal helpline for ten years, rescuing and treating thousands of injured dogs, cats, cows, and birds. She later joined Samarpan Foundation in 2007.
“I believe that it is important for a lay person to understand animal laws,” says Poornima. She has conducted an Animal Laws Training Programme for about 360 trainees at Karnataka Police Training College, Channapatna. At present, she feeds 65 homeless dogs in Lingarajpuram area, and will soon expand her kitchen to feed about 150 homeless dogs and cats. “We have also started rescue and rehabilitation of snakes , other wild animals, and birds in Goa, along with feeding of 30 homeless dogs there,” she adds.
Sowmya completed her Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and then went to pursue a Masters in Environment Technology from the New York Institute of Technology. At college, she started an animal rights and environmental group, Sanjeevini, and then connected to a wider network in Bangalore. Having been raised in a meat-eating family, she says, “I became a vegetarian at the age of 12, after watching a TV programme Heads and Tails on Doordarshan, and a vegan after seeing a cow pass away on a national highway. I soon began exploring and learning more about the dairy industry which reinforced my belief and need to be vegan.” Sowmya, 33, is a member of the Animal Welfare Board of India and runs a vegan restaurant in Bangalore called 
Usha Madan is a counsellor and psychotherapist by profession, and an animal lover by heart. “I have always felt that animals complete a family. My growing-up years were full of Ramu, Tiger, Julie, Rami, CB, etc.,” says Usha. For her, animal welfare was simply reaching out to animals in need, feeding the ones in the neighborhood. Despite rescuing her first pup at the age of six, she has never called herself an animal activist.
Yasmine is a school teacher by profession and her place is the unofficial address for abandoned cats and dogs. Supported by her husband Jayaprakash Sathyamurthy, the couple’s house is nothing short of a sanctuary. Abused and abandoned animals will always find refuge at here, an idyllic haven located in the heart of Bangalore.
This article also wants to place on record all the inspiring women who continue to work unstintingly and unfailingly behind the scenes in animal welfare without seeking the limelight: Mandy Vasudevan, Shamalatha Rao, Chinthana Gopinath, Melissa Marak, Manisha Singh, Minu Singh, Sanjana Madappa, Jessica Jerusha, Kelly Johnson, Mansi Jaysal, Meera Minnie Pillai, Sudha Narayanan, Sandhya Madappa, Vidhya Murali, Lalitha Iyer, Shree Kavya, Achala Pani, Nandinee Mukherjee, Debaleena Ghosh, Brinda Nandakumar, Aasha, Archana Rao, Tanya, Vani Shankar, Laavanya Koushik, Ritikaa Goel, Priya Chetty Rajgopal, and many more…
About the author: Pinky Chandran is a community media practitioner and an environmentalist. She also works on animal welfare, gender, and sexuality issues. She is the Director of Radio Active, CR 90.4 MHz.
My first introduction to Chilika didn't give me a sense of this vastness though. Driving down from Bhubaneshwar, I had approached Chilika from its north-western side, from a village named Mangalajodi. Here, farmlands slowly converge into a maze of shallow marshlands. After parking the car at the eco-tourism complex, I accompanied my enthused guide, Madhu Behera.
A narrow path took us through a fishing village, and then the path narrowed down further till it became a bund that sliced the marshlands into two. On one side, hundreds of open-billed storks had flocked together and were feeding in the shallow waters. On the other side were dense bushes of reeds on which streaked warblers were creating an endless cacophony.
When we reached the watch-tower at the end of the bund, we saw a dozen bronze-winged jacanas doing their balancing act on the floating lotus leaves, and feeding on their tender shoots.
Close by was a jetty, where a boat was waiting for us. Balancing in the country boat, I readied my camera for the sights lurking in the misty marshes in the distance. With a large bamboo pole that was the oar, the boatman cut through the icy waters, guided by the finely-honed instincts of Madhu the guide.
Madhu knew these wetlands like the back of his hand, and he knew exactly where each species could be found. And he asked me to name my choice: godwits, pin-tailed ducks, spot-billed ducks or Chinese coots. I blindly picked godwits, maybe because that name always fascinated me. And lo and behold, in a matter of minutes we were upon a few thousand godwits feeding among the 'nal' grass.
Dr. Ajit Pattanaik of Chilika Development Authority explained the uniqueness of this wetland. He said, 'Situated on the eastern coast of India, it was a bay many centuries ago. Over time, tidal waves deposited sand in the bay and created a sand bar with a small mouth. Thus virtually cutting off this bay from the sea, and creating a salty lake in the process. From the western side, this lake was supplied with fresh water from the rivers; and from the mouth, during high tide, salt water came in from the sea. And this unique habitat became home to a wide variety of both freshwater and saltwater species.’
According to Dr. Balachandran of BNHS, who has been studying this ecosystem for more than a decade, Chilika hosts about 10,00,000 birds annually, spread over 250 species, both resident and migratory.
In 1981, this brackish lake was internationally recognized as a Ramsar Site for its ecological importance and rich bio-diversity. And then a dual tragedy struck Chilika.
On the one hand, poaching became the order of the day. And fishermen turned poachers to make a fast buck. On an average, about a thousand birds were killed every day: by shooting, by trapping in nets, and by poisoning them with pesticides. In a few years' time the numbers dwindled till there were just a few thousand left. Around the same time, as luck would have it, the mouth of the lake started narrowing till it almost shut itself. This decreased the salinity of the lake, and freshwater weeds like hyacinth and ipomoeas flourished and started destroying the flora of the lake. And right enough, due to these two reasons, within a decade it was included in the Red List of Ramsar Sites as a 'Degraded Site'.
The story of Nandakishore is very similar to the story of Dr. Salim Ali. In his book 'The Fall of a Sparrow', Salim Ali confesses how the sparrow that he shot dead kindled his interest in birds. Nandakishore told me about a similar incident in his life. During his young days, boys used to announce that they have come of age by flaunting the carcasses of birds they had shot down with their air guns. While in his late teens, he too shot down an egret in Chilika that fell down to the ground with a twig clutched in its mouth. The fact that the egret must have been carrying the twig to make its nest dawned on him. And it created an unbearable guilt that remained as a raw wound in his mind.
These words somehow somewhere touched Madhu; and a week later he came to Nandakishore's house, his Dirty Dozen in tow. They informed him that they have thrown away their air guns in the lake, and will never again kill a single bird in their life. Knowing the psyche of this fickle-minded fishing community, Nandakishore told them that their decision was welcome. But he would believe them only if they took the oath in the temple of Kalijai, a goddess whose very thought makes them tremble. And on a morning that would change Chilika forever, they took the pledge of their lives in the temple. They have stood by it for 17 years, and they will stand by it for the rest of their lives.
Interestingly, one of these turned a renegade and went back to his old ways. He was promptly banished from the team, and handed over to the forest officials without any sympathy. The team of 11 then expanded to over 50, with each one of them having taken the oath to protect Chilika and all that dwells in it.
When Madhu and his gang gave up the lucrative business of poaching, a kind of vacuum was created in their lives. That's when an NGO called Wild Orissa led by Nandakishore stepped in. He had realized that poaching was serious business. To conduct it, the poachers had to learn to identify scores of migratory birds that were winter visitors in Chilika; they had to keep a track of when they start coming in and when they start going back; and what do they feed on and where do they roost. In short, they had to become experts in birdlife.
Nandakishore, along with his understudy Aditya Roy, started conducting workshops for the ex-poachers to convert this vast knowledge at their disposal to become nature guides. Aditya taught them the English names of these birds, and even helped them with their communication skills. Both of which were needed in their interactions with nature lovers.
The Chilika Development Authority gave them land to house their office and also to start an Interpretation Centre. They were supplied with tents in which they could put up visitors wanting to stay the night at Mangalajodi. And armed with the binoculars provided by CDA, the poachers-turned-protectors patrolled the waterways of Chilika, day in and day out. They took nature lovers in their boats, with the precise knowledge of which species can be found where. The division of labour among them was well-defined. Some of them became boatmen, some turned cooks who provided food on a day-long boat journey, and the ones with better communication skills became guides. Parallely, CDA opened up the mouth of the lake with technical help from leading water management authorities, thereby restoring its delicate balance. And by 2002, Chilika was removed from the Red List of Ramsar, thus becoming the only ecosystem in Asia to ever come out of that dreaded list.
Madhu was their leader when they were poachers, and he continues to be their leader even after they turned protectors. His knowledge of birds is so vast, I asked him which Bird Book he refers to. He smiled, and pointing his finger in the distance, said, 'That lake there is my book.'
And that lake, unlike a book, had thousands and thousands of birds. There were many flocks of different feathers dotting the waterscape of Chilika. But the most stunning of them all was a flock of pin-tailed ducks that spread across a couple of kilometres in the horizon, and numbered a staggering fifteen thousand.
Conservationists across India would do well to take a leaf out of the Book of Chilika. If a conservation effort has to be as successful as the one in Chilika, the local community has to be deeply engaged and passionately involved. That's the only way to protect the last green bastions left in our country.
A Raika with his camel[/caption]
The Raikas bond deeply with their camels[/caption]
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson with a Raika and his camel[/caption]
It wasn't easy for Köhler-Rollefson, an outsider, to become an activist and advocate on behalf a community that has traditionally been wary of outsiders. Ultimately, it was her veterinary training that made the Raikas first take note of her. Diseases were killing camels and many had miscarriages. So, Köhler-Rollefson began helping the herders treat sick camels. She also began organizing medicines for the animals only to realise that most companies had stopped manufacturing them.
That's when she recognised the need for steady funding to help the Raika and their camels. So, in 1996, she set up 
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson helping Raikas treat their sick camels[/caption]
Camel Milk[/caption]
The Camel Charisma store[/caption]
The beagles rescued by CUPA[/caption]
This year, heavy monsoon rains caused large scale flooding in Assam, forcing 1.2 million people to abandon their waterlogged homes. Eighty percent of Kaziranga National Park, one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in the world and home to the world’s largest population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, was also submerged under flood waters.
Mobile Veterinary Units of Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) worked day and night to rescue 62 hog deer, three eastern swamp deer, 10 Asian one-horned rhinoceros, and eight rhinos calves separated from their mothers. The Assam forest department also deployed over 1,000 people, including staff on the highways, to ensure safe passage of animals to the hills from low lying areas.
Sidda[/caption]
Animals caught in snares and traps often struggle for hours—in some cases, days—before succumbing to thirst, hunger, strangulation, internal injuries and even predation from carnivores. The animals that manage to escape often succumb to their injuries and die days or weeks after their painful escape. And this is not to mention the agony, terror and anxiety that any trapped animal will experience.
WildlifeSOS were appalled to discover that snares and traps were not just easily available, but were being sold in India by one of the world’s leading online retailers. The NGO immediately launched a petition imploring the global e-commerce giant to stop selling snares and other items that encourage or propagate maiming, hunting, trapping and killing of wildlife. As a result of sustained efforts, the petition gathered over 9,600 signatures with animal lovers from across the globe expressing their outrage and vowing to boycott the retailer. The retail giant finally gave in and sent a written confirmation, agreeing to remove all such items.
Read More 
After over 50 years of suffering, Mohan is finally finding happiness at his new home.[/caption]
Bhadra being treated (left), Bhadra with Karthik Dhandhapani[/caption]
The infamous viral video of a man throwing a dog from the terrace of a two-storeyed building had left many across the country shocked and outraged. But to everyone’s great relief, animal rights activist Shravan Krishnan and his team found Bhadra (the name they gave the dog) alive and took her to Vepery Medical College for treatment. He also filed an FIR as well as the petition in the Court against both the accused.
Even as Bhadra awaited justice against those who flung her off the terrace, she has found a permanent home with Karthik Dhandhapani, a resident of Chennai. In the heart-warming post he revealed how adopting Bhadra was a dream come true and how gradually the friendly dog had become family for him.
Read More 
In pic above: Dr. Prakash Amte with the animals of Animal Ark.
Babli soon found a friend in the household dog. She would cling to the dog’s back and fearlessly play with it, unaware that it was the very species of animal the tribals used to hunt her own kind. This scene transformed many hearts. It also helped Dr. Prakash strike a deal with the Madia tribe. He couldn’t question the hunting rights of the tribe as the practice was necessary for them to obtain food, but he decided to at least try and save the baby animals. Dr. Prakash convinced the Madias not to kill minors of the animal kingdom, but to instead bring orphaned and injured animals to his home in return for food and clothes. A deal was struck.
One by one, jackals, leopards, jungle cats, common palm civets, rhesus macaques, sloth bears, giant squirrels, rat-tail langurs, four-horned antelopes, black buck antelopes, rat snakes, Indian pythons, crocodiles, monitor lizards, banded kraits, peacocks, a spotted deer, porcupines, and neelgai found their home at Animal Ark.
Never before had wild animals lived in such close contact with humans. The issue became a matter of concern for the government. Objections were raised against the breeding of wild animals in village settings. Regulations demanded that the wild animals be caged. Aniket Amte, the doctor couple’s son who had a rather Jungle-book style childhood, describes how he preferred the way things were before the cages were erected.
In pic above: Living the Jungle Book - Dr.Prakash Amte's son, Aniket, and grandson, Arnav.
Even with the cages, Animal Ark is more like an ‘asylum for animals’ than a zoo, with the unfettered love that Dr. Prakash and his family shower their adopted family with. Today, there are over 90 animals in the ark. The number of animals regularly brought to the Amte home has drastically reduced because the Madias hunt less.
In pic above: Dr. Prakash Amte and Dr. Mandakini Amte - Providing medical services to the tribal people since 1973.
Dr. Prakash also happens to be the son of Baba Amte, one of the greatest social reformers that our country has seen. While his father started Lok Biradari Prakalp and brought change to the lives of many leprosy patients in Anandwan, Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini decided to move to Hemalkasa to continue the tradition of working for social reform.
Hemalkasa, cut off from the rest of the world with no roads or electricity, has long been home to the tribal community of Madia-Gond that lived in abject poverty. The tribes of this area knew no techniques of agriculture and were totally dependent on the forest for their food. They wore no clothes, suffered from malnutrition and had no access to medical care. Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini set up a hospital where they treated tribal people for free. They started teaching the children from the community under a tree. Furthermore, they worked towards solving day-to-day problems of the villagers. The benefits of their work were reaped in the long run. Today the very children who studied under trees have become doctors, teachers, and engineers. The hospital is now equipped with modern facilities. The local school has a proper building and teaches over 400 tribal children. The tribal people have picked up agriculture and consequentially, they hunt less.
Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini are not veterinarians; they are both doctors who went to medical school. The Animal Ark was not a part of the plan they had for their lives but they went beyond conventions to create an animal haven within their own courtyard.
Dr. Prakash and Dr. Mandakini were awarded the Ramon Magsasay Award in 2008 for their work in Gadchiroli. With great simplicity and saint-like devotion, they continue their work in this remote village.
They’re cared for by the feisty and energetic Jasjit Purewal, founder of the Indigree Angels Trust, a national non-profit based in New Delhi that works with the mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and healing abandoned and abused Indian and pedigree dogs. There are about six or seven dogs in her front and back yards, and the space doubles up as medical boarding for desi canines.
Her front yard houses kennels for rescued dogs. Three are permanent residents and the others are on the lookout for foster homes. The immediate area outside the house also serves as a rest lodge for doggies on the move. Blankets, boris, food and bowls filled with water have been laid out for visiting canines who wish to eat or relax.
Her daily schedule is packed. She’s up at 6.30 a.m. to walk the dogs, then returns to supervise cooking for them. Food is prepared in large amounts to feed approximately 300 dogs per day and 10,000 per month. She embarks on her first feeding round to nearby colonies by 8:00 am. Between 10 and 5, she accompanies her team to a larger feeding ground and deals with canine medical emergencies. Sometimes Jasjit and her para-vet friend, Anusheh (Senior Para Vet at Indigree), take the dogs to an animal hospital.
Jasjit recalls, “This Diwali, we were informed about a lead poisoning case in a dog near RK Puram. We gave her different kinds of drips, anti-biotics, injections and we were there till quarter to one in the wee hours of morning.”
“I believe I was a dog in my past life. I have always loved all animals. When I was quite young, I used to cry on seeing injured street dogs or cows, and tell my father. I would bandage them and feel the need to treat them,” she says.
It’s been eight years since Indigree started. The NGO started out by taking small yet consistent steps to help stray dogs in the colony. Jasjit and Anusheh began to pick up dogs, take injured ones to a vet, get them vaccinated, sterilise, feed, de-worm, and look after them.
Over the years they were able to build a small team of like-minded people, driven by a common purpose. “We have been able to get an ambulance, train a para-vet who helps in catching and bandaging, etc. Some people helped us in fostering the dogs. Our immediate support system isn’t very large, but largely Delhi is very pro-animal. There are these networks that help out when a dog gets lost or needs an adoption. That kind of networking did help us in our endeavour.”
Indigree’s Treat On The Street programme is one of its most unique initiatives under which 700 street dogs are treated every month.
One of the main reasons behind beginning the initiative was to avoid moving sick dogs to shelters, unless absolutely necessary. Animal shelters, they believe, are inadequate and unhygienic, making sick dogs more prone to infection. Treat On The Street involved treating sick animals on the spot with the help of their mobile clinic.
Dogs are vaccinated against fatal diseases like rabies, Parvo and distemper, on the street itself. They are also bandaged and treated for skin diseases, gastroenteritis, mange, eye infections, tumours and maggots. 90% of the dogs Indigree looks after receive successful in-situ treatment.
Their medical equipment – bandages, allopathic and homeopathic medicines, syringes, skin washes, lotions – are of the best possible quality.
Jasjit’s noble work hasn’t been limited to the colonies of South Delhi. She has previously served as the Executive Board Member of the Animal Welfare Board of India from 2011-15. During this time, she set up Srinagar’s first ever sterilisation unit for stray canines.
The experience, Jasjit says, helps her conduct sterilisations at Indigree, “That exposure helped me understand the best technology we could use and what things we needed to look out for. It also made me more aware about animal welfare laws and policies.”
Today, Indigree’s facts and figures are impressive. Over the last two years, 600 dogs have been sterilised and 500 street dogs have been vaccinated against Rabies and Distemper. Every month, 500 dogs are treated on the spot, while 200 dogs are provided with long term treatment.
Most dogs requiring long term care are put in private boarding until forever-homes are identified.
Come rain or shine, the Indigree team works 10-14 hours every day, reaching out to stray dogs, feeding, sterilising and treating them. The team comprises Anusheh Hussain, head para vet; Pooja, a young, slum-dwelling single mom also trained as a para-vet and Prem and Nandoo, on the dog management and handling team.
Jasjit’s house or the Indigree ‘office’ isn’t a sprawling mansion, but a modest duplex. From here she works with a small, dedicated team. Infrastructural challenges aside, when Jasjit started on her Indigree journey, she faced a lot of opposition from her neighbours.
She recalls, “Some residents would create a ruckus, they would want our parking space, break our car window panes and beat up the dogs. They would bring the police. Crowds would come saying, ‘ye kaat te hain’ (they bite), and all this nonsense. It was a terrible eight or nine months. Luckily, at that time, I was working with the Animal Welfare Board of India. Hence, the cops were very helpful and the SHO was very sympathetic. Overall, there was a lot of hostility, but we just kept doing our work.”
While the Indigree Angels Trust has a promising success rate, Jasjit believes it is important that the organisation inspires the future generation.
Indigree has been working towards raising awareness about Indian dogs and the rampant neglect and abuse they face daily. While not a lot of people are aware of their efforts, or recognise their workers by face, when an Indigree member walks through Green Park, RK Puram or a Safdarjung Enclave colony, they are instantly surrounded by the resident street dogs clamouring for attention, like fans surrounding their favourite super star.
Jasjit grins as she says, “People enquire, ‘what is happening?’ The dogs recognise our faces, car, walk, voice, not just here, but all the way from Kamal Cinema to RK Puram! Dogs are energy sensitive, they can detect auras, sniff out dog smells. They feel a compassionate, affectionate and non-threatening person.”
Jasjit notices and narrates the heart wrenching story of her self-appointed, furry security guard. “That’s Bibi. She is very old and had a really bad time on the streets. When we found her she had a huge number of maggots, couldn’t get up, was covered in blood, pus and pee and was barely conscious. With time, we were able to heal her wounds. Today Bibi has got her own little blanket and bori, she’s healthy and loves to eat. She was safe during Diwali; she will be safe during winter. It really warms my heart that I am able to do that for her. I can’t imagine the kind of trauma that she has been through. But maybe I have been able to give her the feeling that not all humans are bad. And she deserves to be loved and cherished.”
Bibi continues to sniff me and I stroke her head for a while. Content, she goes back to her corner to complete her sleep quota.
To learn more about Indigree or help out these silent crusaders, you can visit their website 
The sun rises to greet us on our snake walk.[/caption]
This idea – that it is difficult to enjoy the scenery while going down an unfamiliar and uneven path – is relevant to what my life is as an AIF Clinton Fellow. I am working at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology (MCBT) in Tamil Nadu, India. Something so different from college, and from anything I’ve ever done before. Unexplored terrain. I don’t know where the potholes lie, but I know there will be potholes. However this time, instead of cautiously looking for them and trying not to trip, I am going to trust that I will be able to get up after any fall. With a sure step, I plan on moving forward without constantly looking down to check myself.
I’d like to start by formally introducing you to the fantastic organization that I am working with, as well as the project that I am pursuing.
The “Croc Bank,” as it is lovingly called, was founded 40 years ago by two fantastic humans—Zai, whom I have the pleasure of working with, and Rom, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting. Around the 1970s, crocodile hunting and trade was rampant in India and as a result, populations of various species were dwindling. In 1976, the Croc Bank was established to serve as a genetic bank of threatened reptile species and to conduct captive breeding projects of three specific Indian crocodile species—the marsh crocodile or “mugger”, the saltwater crocodile or “salty”, and the gharial. After breeding, these crocs were released into the wild, in order to repopulate their native habitats.
A happy bunch of reptile and wildlife lovers! From left to right: Arul (staff), me (Avan Antia), Vaishali (volunteer), Rom (MCBT co-founder), Anjana (staff), and Nik (MCBT curator).[/caption]
Throughout the years, the Croc Bank has served as a center for conservation, captive breeding, scientific research, education, and discovery. Currently, there are over 2,000 reptiles within these 8.8 acres of lush and diverse greenery. There are 17 species of crocodilians (crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials) in addition to various chelonians (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins), komodo dragons, iguanas, monitors, and snakes.
[caption id="attachment_82058" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
“Jaws III”, a 17-foot-long Saltwater crocodile, smiles wide for the camera![/caption]
Importantly though, the Croc Bank is not just a typical zoo. Though it does serve as a collection of captive animals for public education, much of the Croc Bank’s work is done in the field. There are two permanent field stations in the Agumbe Rainforest and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and various other projects around India. Research at the Croc Bank has produced about 300 publications. These include studies on reptile biology and behavior, veterinary science, capture techniques, and much more. The Croc Bank also has a co-op with the Irula tribe, who are known for their expert snake-catching ability, to conduct snake venom extractions. This venom is then sent to laboratories to produce antivenom used for snakebite treatment in India.
So what exactly am I doing here? Wresting crocodiles? Charming snakes?
Unfortunately (or fortunately), no. I’m actually working to formulate a solid waste management strategy for the Croc Bank. With over 2,000 reptiles, the Croc Bank rakes up loads (literally) of feces, in addition to leaf litter, and other organic waste. This is all deposited into a behemoth of a compost pile and left to decompose over time. What is produced after many months is a beautiful, earthy compost, rich in nitrogen and phosphorous.
In addition, an average of 22,300 visitors pass through the park per month. Hence, it accumulates a lot of non-biodegradable waste, especially plastic bottles. The Croc Bank currently segregates and stores this, but needs a way to dispose of it in a “green” manner.
On a larger scale, waste management is a problem with which India has constantly struggled. In urban India alone, the total municipal solid waste generated is about 188,500 tons per day! Compounding that fact, trash collection systems inefficient, so many people dump trash on the streets or in open spaces. In the end, we leave over 91 % of the trash we collect in a landfill. That is only the tip of the iceberg.
Luckily, there are various waste management options, such as “waste to energy,” composting, and biogas production. We will explore all these possibilities for the most practical and eco-friendly waste management plan at the Croc Bank! In addition, we will educate the younger generation on the importance of “being green” by visiting schools in the area.
Thus, I will work here at the crossroads between science, environmental conservation, waste management, and education.
Find out more about the Croc Bank and how you can contribute to the project on the 
Mohan stepping into the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura[/caption]
Leopard jumping into the trapping cage[/caption]
Rose shortly after her rescue[/caption]
Rhea coming out of the elephant ambulance at the WSOS Elephant Conservation & Care Center, Mathura[/caption]
Wildlife SOS staff cares for hog deer fawn[/caption]
A Spotted Black Turtle rescued from the poacher’s net in Agra[/caption]
Nilgai resting under a tree near Parliament House[/caption]
Himalayan Griffon Vulture rescued from Dal Lake[/caption]
Injured hyena rescued from a violent mob in Agra[/caption]
Leopard rescued from a house[/caption]
Dusky Eagle Owl rescued from poachers[/caption]
A Wildlife SOS veterinarian treating monitor lizards[/caption]
Leopard trapped inside a 30-foot-deep well[/caption]
Rescued Barn Owl fledglings[/caption]
Wildlife SOS treating the sloth bear[/caption]
Wildlife SOS works with rural and urban communities to spread awareness about the plight of wildlife in India. It also tries to evoke a sense of compassion within the local communities, especially among the young generations. This gives them a more sensitized understanding of the environment and inspires people to actively protect our natural heritage.
Help Wildlife SOS rescue animals as a volunteer. Find out more 
